Many Voices

She speaks with many voices; the daughter says
the voice of the wind in the crags of the cliffs
the voice of the water rippling with tadpoles
the voice of the mare groaning in birth
the voice of hay, of manure, of growing
the voice of our fields, our traditions

Yes, the mother says
softly combing her locks
listening with her eyes, her ears, her love,
she speaks with many voices
but all of the voices are She


©2004 Johnmichael Simon